Kumori's Story

So I had to write a short story for my class the other day, and it actually turned out better than I had expected. I turned the rough draft in, not entirely satisfied with the ending, but the whole class loved it, even my professor. Which is great! Because I definitely start more stories than I finish...I had it originally as a longer (much longer) story, so I'll end up finishing it later. Since I originally planned it to be long, I did some research and named the main character Kumori, which means 'shadow' in Japanese. So here's the story!

It was a clever mask. It's background was a rich cream, like the color of a pearl, with two thinly painted red lines etching around the outside, while a thick, bold black line swirled across either side of the nose. The design on it strongly resembled a broken wire fence. The mask was tied back with an elegant, yet simple, piece of dark gray braided thread. Between the two strands of gray was a deep purple that twisted its way through. The mask of one hiding a broken heart. The masks not only portrayed what they were hiding, but what they were pretending to be in order to hide.

Kumori sighed and shifted her gaze out the window. At first it had fascinated her, all the different mask that the others wore as each one had a distinct story to tell, and she had learned that there really was so much more hiding beneath a person's surface. Yet for all the years she had see through people's mask, Kumori was still trying to figure out why she had been given the ability to do so.

Most people never forgot a face, but Kumori never forgot a mask. There was something about a person's mask that made it stand out from among all the rest, and no two masks were alike. Kumori had decided that the appearance of the mask depended entirely on the person rather then what they were trying to hide, for everyone has different ways of hiding things.

Kumori's secret was made bearable by her best friend, who was the only one who knew about Kumori's ability to see the masks. It made things easier knowing that there was someone youcould trust, and Kumori was grateful to have someone to talk to about the masks. As if Akira had heard her thoughts, she turned in her chair to flash a bright smile at Kumori, and Kumori couldn't help but smile back, mainly because of Akira's mask though.

Akira's mask was brightly colored like a newly polished emerald. Yet hidden among the emerald were deep, deep blue flecks that were like teardrops. Two swift lines of blue streaked up either side of the mask, coming to a point in back before meeting the slender silver ribbon that tied her mask back. The mask was edged in the same deep, deep blue and the holes for the eyes were edged in the same color silver as the ribbon. It was a mask to hide the struggle it was to be the only daughter of one of the richest men in the city. Kumori had only ever seen Akira wear one other mask.

As class dismissed Akira waited while Kumori slid her books into her bag.

“You were thinking about it again, weren't you.” Akira said, already knowing the answer, and knowing Kumori wasn't going to answer it.

Kumori brushed back her bangs and looked at Akira with a look of puzzlement. “Thinking about what?”

Oh don't even try.” Akira said.

Kumori laughed and tossed her head. “ I'm just tired.” She lied.

Akira looked at her intently, her light gray eyes told Kumori that she didn't believe her, but Akira knew better than to push the issue. Kumori didn't like to talk about her ability no matter what Akira said, though occasionally Kumori did vent her frustration and thoughts about the whole ordeal to Akira. So for her best friend, Akira changed the topic and out the door they went as they entered the crowded hallways. They made an odd pair really. Kumori was several inches taller than Akira, and her dark brown, stick straight hair contrasted between Akira's wavy raven-black hair. Not to mention, their personalities were like night and day.

As they chatted and walked down the halls, Kumori watched as a sea of masks poured out from the classroom doorways and milled throughout the hallways. As she watched the faces pass by, Kumori desperately wished that she could take away each one's pain. Each one had something to hide, something they were reluctant to let others see, but Kumori couldn't help but wonder what they would be like without their masks. What would she be like without her own mask? Kumori shuddered at the thought of being so exposed.

“There he is!” Akira exclaimed excitedly.

Kumori whirled around, ready to pounce, at the sound of Akira's squeal. “What is it?”

Akira's pointed down the hall. “There he is.” She repeated in a hushed tone.

Kumori looked in the direction Akira was pointing and it was all she could do not to laugh and roll her eyes at Akira's face. She shook her head ruefully. “I still don't know why you like that guy.”

“But everybody likes Daiki.” Akira pointed out.

Kumori shrugged her slim shoulders and glanced in his direction. He was a lanky guy with the hair of polished walnut wood, and incredibly dark brown eyes. In spite of this, it was Daiki's mask that she was the most interested in. His mask was a rich dark gray, like the color of polishedmarble. It was edged in a hazy dark gray that was flecked with millions of little pieces of silver. A fancy, flowing script laced its way around the bottom half of the mask, but the writing was unintelligible. A crimson cord held his mask in place and also hid his loneliness. As she watched, the mask slowly faded from view and she was suddenly aware that Daiki had caught her staring. His dark brown eyes met hers questioningly.

Kumori's could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she quickly looked away. “Stupid masks.” She muttered under her breath. It was a habit to scan the crowds, looking for someone who might see through her own mask, but Daiki's mask wasn't the one she was looking for. It was Kumori's deepest wish and deepest fear to find who could see her mask, and she feared it was practically impossible to meet such a person.

“I have to go.” Kumori said suddenly, and with that she fled from the hallway leaving Akira standing there amid a sea of faces.

Kumori fled to the roof, which had become her safe haven over the past few semesters, and promptly sat down behind the door and buried her face in her hands. It wasn't that she tried to stare, it was just that she got so caught up in studying the masks that she soon forgot the actual person. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them as she gazed out over the rooftops. A lone dandelion looked up at her from between the cracks of the cement, bobbing its fluffy white head in the wind.

Kumori leaned over and gently plucked it from its resting place and cupped her hands around it. It was foolishness, wasn't it? To wish upon a dandelion? At this point in time, Kumori didn't really care, so she closed her eyes and held on tight. She whispered softly to herself and then with a gentle puff of air, the seeds of the dandelion took flight on the wind and scattered throughout the cloudless blue sky. When Kumori opened her eyes, she half expected to see her mask lying on the ground in front of her, but everything looked the same. She sighed and leaned her head back against the cool cement wall and closed her eyes. Kumori suddenly felt a shadow fall across her face and she opened her eyes to see someone she had never seen before.

“My name's Riku.” He said. “Are you alright?”

He looked about two years older then her and was very tall, Kumori only came up to his shoulder. His tousled, raven-black hair hung around his face and revealed a pair of the greenest eyes Kumori had ever seen. Unlike everyone else, he didn't wear the school uniform. He wore smoke gray jeans, black shoes, and a black jacket (the kind without the hood) over a white shirt. But his mask was what caught her interest.

Riku's mask was a black one. It was the color of a dark night with no moon, and the only other color was the silver slashes that emblazoned either side of the eyes, and the rich silver ribbon that tied his mask back. She was feeling no shame in staring until she realized that he was studying her just as intently. She flushed and quickly looked away. “Sorry.” She murmured, as she tried to stand up and walk away.

Riku suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Wait.” His voice surprisingly steady and low.

She looked up at him in surprise.

“You can see it, can't you?” He asked.

She feigned innocence. “See what? I just like green eyes, that's all.”

He shook his head and gave a slight smile. “Liar.”

Kumori's eyes widened, but she just as quickly masked it with a laugh and shake of her head.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” She said, trying to steady her racing heart.

Riku didn't say anything, but his eyes said it all, and suddenly Kumori felt as if she was standing in the dark underneath a bright spotlight, all alone. She felt the strong need to run and hide, anything to get away from his probing eyes. Don't look at me. She wanted to cry out. Please don't see inside. “I'm sorry, but I'll be late for my next class if I don't go.” Kumori told him, gesturing to his hand that still gripped her wrist.

“I must admit, I've never seen anyone do it so well.” He said.

Kumori shrugged. “Do what?” She asked, but by now she was wishing that she hadn't wished on that silly dandelion. After all, it wasn't really supposed to work, was it? Kumori couldn't believe that he had come because of a wish, and that this was happening because of a wish. Did that mean Riku wasn't real? Was it all fake? Kumori pulled her arm from his grasp, “I have to go.” She repeated numbly.

“It's hard isn't it?” Riku called after her.

Kumori forced herself to keep walking in an effort to get herself out of there and away from him.

“It's hard pretending that everything is alright, and that you haven't a care in the world. It's hard to hold on to something when you just want to let go.”

Kumori stopped dead in her tracks, her heart pounding and her breath shaking. No, she told herself, it couldn't be real. At least that's what she wanted to think, Kumori didn't think she really wanted anyone to see what she was really like on the inside. She tried to hard to be strong, but if he could really see then he could really see how weak she was. Kumori took another step and reached for the door handle.

“You don't have to run.” He told her.

Kumori shut her eyes tight, trying to fight the hot tears that welled up in her eyes. She slowly turned to face Riku and to her surprise his black mask was gone. Riku held up his hand to reveal his mask dangling in his hand, the silver ribbon untied.

“But how---?” Her voice trailed off as she looked up to study his face. His green eyes seemed brighter and his smile came easily. There were no more pretenses, no more lies, and no more false smiles.

“You don't have to hide anymore.” Riku said gently.

At these words Kumori couldn't help it as the tears ran down her face . “But I'm not who I seem to be.” Kumori whispered, afraid to say it too loud. “I'm not strong.”

Riku didn't answer, but instead hugged her tight as her tears continued to fall. “It's alright.” He said softly. “It's going to be alright.” And that's all Kumori wanted to know.